Breaking: Prosecutors drop a huge development about Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen

Federal prosecutors made a recommendation Friday in the charges against Michael Cohen, the former lawyer and friend to President Donald Trump, who agreed to a plea deal and admitting wrongdoing.

The recommendation was for a "substantial term of imprisonment" for the attorney.

Cohen defended his friend and client often on cable news shows before the election, but had a falling out after his office and residence was raided by the FBI, and he admitted to violating campaign finance laws.

The filing says that 51 to 63 months imprisonment is set forth by guidelines for his crimes.

"This reflects Cohen's extensive, deliberate, and serious criminal conduct, and this Office submits that a substantial prison term is required to vindicate the purposes and principles of sentencing," prosecutors said.

They said that there could be a modest reduction in the sentence owing to the cooperation Cohen offered in the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference and alleged collusion with the Trump campaign.

"Cohen's consciousness of wrongdoing is fleeting, that his remorse is minimal, and that his instinct to blame others is strong" they added.

While Cohen has told prosecutors that he violated campaign finance laws at the behest of the president, who was a presidential candidate at the time, it is unclear if this presents a legal liability for the president.